Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Jos (Agenzia Fides) - “It was incredible to witness what January 17th 2010 Jos crisis did to the inhabitants of Jos and its environs. Somehow, insanity was let loose which triggered the destruction of churches and mosques with several people displaced as homes and business premises were destroyed,” writes Archbishop Ignatius A. Kaigama of Jos, capital of the Nigerian Plateau State, where episodes of intercommunal violence have taken place (see Fides 25/3/2010), taking its toll on the local population. Archbishop Kaigama, in an article published on a local level and also sent to Fides, recalls that “people watched their life’s savings go up in flames and loved ones maimed or killed. The communal nature of family life was disrupted as families divided by the crisis were forced to live kilometers away, meeting occasionally to nurse their wounds and be separated again.”
However, this has not always been the case, as Archbishop Kaigama writes, “undoubtedly Jos city has been one of the most peaceful in Nigeria favored with a serene climate and natural beauty. The warmth and generosity of its people endears many. In the past decades due to tin mining business, there has been a blend of local, national and international activities as one could find nationals from many countries at home in Jos. Little wonder, the state itself adopted the name, 'Home of Peace and Tourism.' Unfortunately, the 2001 crisis created an unprecedented suspicion and animosity between the minority Hausa/Fulani Muslim settler communities and the majority Christian natives. Before now, all was well as both communities participated to some extent in festivities: social, religious and political with little or no prejudices or discrimination.”
The Catholic Church, together with men of good will of other faiths, seeks to put an end to this situation and to help the victims of violence. The Archbishop of Jos in particular has pointed to his friend, the Emir Haruna Abdullahi Wase, who died recently (see Fides 06/10/2010), as one of the most engaged in building bridges between different communities in the area. In addition to the local church, even the universal Catholic community is committed to helping the people of the Plateau State to restore peace, as evidenced by the recent visit of Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, to Jos.
Archbishop Kaigama concludes by describing his visit to the village of Mazah, which was attacked on July 17. “I was particularly moved by the banners members of the community carried with the inscription, 'the greatest weapon against violence is forgiveness.' What could be truer? Such is the spirit of a people who may be down but not out. Good can indeed overcome evil if there is the will.” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 4/11/2010)
